The Washington critic., 1887-03-01
THE VISITORS GUIDE.
Objects Of Interest in and About the
National Capital.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
Parks, Squares, statues, Gardens and
Other Points Of Attraction.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
THE WAY TO REACH THEM.

Washington is fast becoming the
most attractive city Of the country. As
the Capital of the Nation It presents
more objects of interest to the visitor
than any other on the continent, and O
brief directory Of Its prominent points
Will be OF service to the vast number OF
persons who annually resort to the DO.
litical metropolis. For 1t Is estimated
that over three hundred thousand
strangers pay visit every year to this
city to behold the varied objects of in.
terest which 30 thickly stud the his
toric "Ten Miles Square,"
The System OF Numbering Houses.
Numbers arc displayed over the entrances to
all houses, and the decimal system, as
adopted In Philadelphia, Is used-one hun.
dred numbers being allotted TO each square
pnnnns west Mrst street r. eas siresa inmns MINI
east, A street north, running north, and A
street south, running south. The odd num-
pers are always on the Ilghthand side go.
on the ieft-hand side. The city Is divided
Into four quarters or sections, northeast and
northwest, southeast and southwest, the
streets being designated accordingly; those
running north and south numerically. and
those running east and west by tho letters
Of the alphabet, tho dividing lines being
North and South Capitol streets, running
itol and East Capitol street, and continue
ton on the same west Of tho Capitol, run
ming due east and west.
The Capitol.
This great building is the central point Of the
original District, and Is the largest edihce
re ae S s0Sr Wasns s senES the m15di md ss nSSs Ss
Immediately under the dome, Is tho part
first built. II was partially destroyed by the
British In 1874, but was completely restored
remains of Washington were intended to be
placed, the Library, the Rotunda, the old
Representatives Hall, now tho Gallery of
statuary, and the old Senate Chamber. now
the Supreme Courtroom. The old Supreme
Court room, IN the first story. Is now occu.
pied by the Law Branch Of the Library.
The cornerstone Of the Capitol extension
ss 8ane e WeSser sSt Re oraon
of the occasion from the balcony Of the
Library. The south wing contains the
House, Of Representatives; and the north
tinguished for its historic paintings, for the
famous bronze doors. with their has
reliefs. and for Brumdis frescoings. In the
Potomac marble, representing faces of Ger.
freak Of nature. From the little rotunda,
Immediately north of the great rotunda, the
winding way. From the top Of the dome, or
as far as the visitor can ascend, the view
q the surrounding, country y magnificent.
The Capitol grounds, which formerly were
been transformed into q beautiful
park and are now most exquisitely beauti.
full. The east base Of the Capitol Is soy
The total height from east base to the top
OF the temple covering the dome is 2Ss feet;
the statue Of the Goddess Of Liberty, 19,4
feet, making the total height to the crest Ie q
higher than the west gate Of the grounds,
and g97 feet above low tide in the Potomac,
or e4s feet lower than the apex Of the Wash.
RssSn Wss Nc MnS%fa Sas TsSa Z 81 set L Uns &
and largest public building in the world,
and in many respects tho costliest and
less than century-a fact which adds to
It's beauty and interest. The original Capi-
iol, or centre building, is an imitation.
Though h9 ssvsh s Ts% 81 sns a Mss
portico at night, when the lamps are lit In
illuminate the darkness Is one OF the most
beautiful and picturesque In the world and
IS well worth 4 Journey Of a thousand miles
The White House.
From the west balcony OF the Capitol, looking
down Pennsylvania avenue. the White
above the dense mass Of foliage that en-
bowers It, Ikea gigantic calla lily springing
up amid Its enfolding green blades. Were
u not for the partly Intervening Treasury
the Capitol would be full and complete. The
White House Is the center Of Uptown" as
the Capitol is the center of Down town.
II is beautifully located, the view from the
south windows covering the whole southern
front the city, as the view from the north
up sixteenth street west exhibits the best
part of the Northwest section to the gaze.
The White House Is copy Of the palace Of
addition of large porch on the north front,
which was added during Andrew Jacksons
administration. The reservation In which
1t stands embraces nearly 81 acres. The
main entrance is on the north, reached by
the Pennsylvania avenue cars. 1t is two
stories high Oh the north, Is built OF white
free.stone, 10 feet long by Sc wide. II con.
tains on the first floor the famous Green,
Red, Blue and East rooms, the State Dining
Blue Room is tho Presidents official recep.
| tion room and the edrawing.room Of the ladies
of his family. The East Room, originally
designed for banquet hall and so used as
late as sss and n shs ass part oa S5 shs
| by Mrs. President Adams, Is the largest. and
most noted room In tho building. 1t Is 2.
feet high, so feet long and 40 wide. II IL
open t2 visitors every G day except sundays
Offices, the Presidents office, the. library
/ and the family apartments. All these
| rooms except the latter are open to visitors
by special permission, at suitable hours.
Lafayette square.
| Due north from the White House Is Lafayette
| Square, the first public reservation In Wash
ngoni nat Was improves dre It contains s
| Clark Mills. Many Of Its trees are old forest
| uonarchs, hundreds of years old. II Is In